State Senator Fady Qaddoura has introduced a legislative plan aimed directly at reducing the financial burdens on Hoosier families. The "Affordability First" agenda, as it's called, seeks to address Indiana's rising cost of living through a number of key proposals including medical debt relief and tax reforms. According to a statement obtained by the Indiana Senate Democrats' official site, Qaddoura is determined to provide "immediate, meaningful savings for families who are doing everything right but still falling behind."
Legislation under this new agenda will seek to restore eligibility and funding for child care programs such as CCDF and On My Way Pre-K. In an effort to alleviate the strain on homeowners and tenants, Qaddoura has proposed cutting property taxes for low-income families, veterans, and senior citizens, as well as offering incentives for first-time homebuyers. Moreover, the plan intends to quickly eliminate utility taxes to lower monthly bills and reverse a long-standing sales tax exemption benefiting data centers. "Hoosiers have been calling out for relief from the rising cost of living," said Qaddoura on the Senate Democrats' website. "Every bill I filed this session is rooted in the real stories and struggles my constituents share with me."
The public safety portion of the agenda looks to allow more local control over firearms regulation to Marion County's law enforcement, with the goal of reducing violent crimes. On the education front, Qaddoura has called for comprehensive reforms to charter schools. This includes preventing diversion of funds from traditional schools to charters, revoking the $1 building sale law, and halting state funding to inefficient charters with less than 100 students. The endgame is to ensure that each child in Indiana has access to a robust and fairly funded education system.
Among other legislative efforts, Qaddoura has also put forward a bill designed to put a permanent end to mid-decade redistricting. This move aims to maintain the integrity of Indiana's electoral process. Qaddoura has criticized Statehouse Republicans for their focus on partisan redistricting, stating, "Families aren’t asking for new congressional maps. They’re asking for relief from inflation to ensure affordable utility bills and groceries, child care and health care, and for their local governments and schools to receive adequate support to serve the local needs of our neighbors," as mentioned on the Senate Democrats' website. By enacting these proposed measures, Qaddoura looks to shift the focus back to local needs and concerns, prioritizing what he perceives as the real priorities for Hoosier families — stability, affordability, and fairness.
